The unexpected, future plans

Yesterday as Grandpa got to the farm he noticed two dogs running out of the area where one group of chickens and the cage with the guineas is kept. He ran them off but when he got to the area where the guinea cage was there was blood everywhere. Two of them had been pull at through the tiny holes in the bottom of the cage and were very nearly dead. A third had been wounded in the feet and probably would have been killed had he gotten there any later. He let the two live birds out of the cage and buried the dead ones. He fortified the area and we hope for the best for last night, but he will be armed as he goes this morning.


Late last night Mama woke me to get help with the pups. It appeared that a skunk had attacked the two of them as we had them caged on the porch of a little building near the trailer they are living in. Sasha was bloodied on her hind quarters and the two of them were terrified. Did I mention that they had been sprayed and, my word, they stank? We looked them over (using gloves at arms length) and moved the cage closer to the living quarters even though the aroma was like aromatic ipecac. Mama, needless to say, was having a very difficult time, as much with the smell as with the wounding.

She will call the vet this morning to see what to do with Sasha especially. Since skunks carry rabies in their genes we may have to have her put down and destroyed in order to avoid having a rabid dog in six to eight weeks. I hope not, but it would not be unexpected. As for Samson, prudence may call for him to go to the same fate which would be doubly sad and quite expensive. If they both survive, we will praise the Lord and know that they have at least learned about the dangers of those smelly little creatures we call skunks. In their years of service to the farm, it is knowledge that will serve them well. As for me and Grandpa, all skunks are targeted with a “shoot on sight” standing order.

Between dinner and the skunk attack on our dogs I went to the farm in the last hour of daylight hoping to see the dogs that had cost us three guineas or a skunk. A skunk is living beneath the chicken house where the attack took place and Grandpa is working to get it out. It is a delicate matter due to the well publicized defense mechanism God gave the animal. But we want it gone and after the attack on our pups last night, dead. To that end I bought a used single shot 410 even thought Charles told me recently he had one I could get off of him. The need seemed a little urgent. The shotgun in this case is safer than using the .22 pistols or rifles we have.

It rained most of the afternoon yesterday and continued late into the evening. It is a blessing for the area and we never complain when God sends us moisture.

As we sat talking last night I finally got Grandma to hear my argument against building an herb shop on the farm. It would cost way too much money to do at this time. I need to approach this idea with as much wisdom as possible and in the beginning using as little money as possible if we are to succeed. It takes time and accessibility to build up a clientele – especially in a small town where a two mile trip to Wal-mart is considered a sizable trek.

Mama finally saw that with an herb shop, a farm, a garden, canning, milking, feeding, planting, harvesting, putting up hay, etc, it will be a very busy life for us. Grandma likes the idea of talking to people all day long and that is one area of her life where she still has amazing endurance, but all the other stuff that is required to make such a venture work is a secondary consideration.

I feel in my heart that God is preparing me for such a time, but I am not there yet; soon, I hope, but not yet.